Musician Kid Rock pushed back Friday against criticism of his upcoming appearance at Turning Point USA’s (TPUSA) “All-American Halftime Show,” saying the event is intended as a celebration of the country—not an attack on anyone else.
Speaking on Fox & Friends, Kid Rock said the performers involved aren’t approaching the show with hostility.
“None of us are approaching this with any hate in our hearts at all,” he said. “It’s just a love for our base and love for music, our country.”
TPUSA is hosting the “family-friendly” alternative halftime broadcast on Sunday, positioning it as a counterprogramming option to the NFL’s official Super Bowl LX halftime show featuring Latin music star Bad Bunny.
Why it matters
The dueling halftime events underline how divided pop culture has become—especially around major national stages like the Super Bowl. The official halftime show is expected to draw a massive audience, while TPUSA’s stream reflects conservative frustration with what they see as mainstream entertainment leaving their audience behind.
Some conservative lawmakers and commentators have criticized Bad Bunny’s selection. President Donald Trump called the choice “absolutely ridiculous” and described himself as “anti-them.” Others questioned whether Bad Bunny is American, despite the Puerto Rican artist being a U.S. citizen.
At the same time, many fans applauded the pick. Born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio, the Puerto Rican artist has been one of the defining forces of the streaming era and has been Spotify’s most-streamed global artist four times. When announcing the performance, the NFL described him as “the most popular artist on Earth,” emphasizing his reach and commercial momentum.
What to know
Kid Rock is set to headline TPUSA’s show alongside Brantley Gilbert, Lee Brice, and Gabby Barrett. The organization describes the event as “family-friendly” and “values-driven,” and says it will stream across Turning Point’s digital platforms and partner channels, including Real America’s Voice and OAN.
Kid Rock—born Robert James Ritchie—argued that a sizable part of the country feels overlooked by the entertainment industry.
“There’s a big portion of this country, like it or not, that’s underserved entertainment-wise,” he said on Fox & Friends. “We’re just [going to] go play for our base… people who love America, love football, love Jesus.”
After the announcement, critics resurfaced lyrics from past Kid Rock songs that they say clash with TPUSA’s “faith, family, and freedom” messaging. The scrutiny centered in part on his 2001 track “Cool, Daddy, Cool,” which includes references to underage girls, and other lyrics from later songs.
Kid Rock did not address the lyric backlash directly in the Fox News interview. Instead, he posted a quote on Instagram from late NBA star Kobe Bryant that appeared to nod to the criticism: “Learn to love the hate. Embrace it. Enjoy it. You earned it… Haters are a good problem to have. Nobody hates the good ones. They hate the great ones.”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell also weighed in earlier in the week, defending Bad Bunny’s selection and calling him “one of the great artists in the world.”
How to watch TPUSA’s halftime show
TPUSA says its halftime broadcast will stream online during the Super Bowl’s halftime window, available through its digital platforms and distributed via partner channels such as Real America’s Voice and OAN. Viewers are expected to find the livestream through the organization’s official website and social media as kickoff approaches.
What happens next
Both halftime shows are expected to air around 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, during the Super Bowl’s halftime break.
Kid Rock has teased that his set will feature “one of the greatest written songs,” along with new elements added to a track originally written by a major country artist.
